We had some friends from CA visit us for memorial day weekend and we had a blast. We were able to do lots of sight seeing and ate at some cool restaurants. We are looking forward to our visits to CA this summer. We miss our family greatly.
Sarah and I are doing well and are continuing to learn a lot. Mostly lessons in grace and finding our identity in Jesus. Its been really cool. Its always hard to identify the idols in our life, the things that get in the way of living a worship lifestyle, but it always seems to relieve stress and lift burdens. Its funny how we often think that to live a life glorifying of God will be more burdensome than living a life glorifying ourselves. But when we seek Him, He takes our burden and we praise Him for it, pointing to Him in our joy, finding contentment and satisfaction in Him as He is glorified in us.
Through this, a preacher named John Piper has been very insightful. I have thinking lately about the role of grace in which orthodoxy has long referred to as the 'new birth' and was reminded today, listening to Piper on my ipod, of my own 'new birth' and the grace that God has continued to show to me. I was ransomed because I was a slave, I was captive, and through the ransom of Jesus liberty was given to me. Without the life, death and resurrection of Jesus there can be no gift of reconciliation. My guilt has to be removed and God's wrath has to be poured out, both of which happen through the cross: the blood of Jesus spilled as the propitiation for my sin which scripture calls 'precious.' He lived the life that I cannot live and died the death I should of died, defeating Satan, sin and death, granting me a 'new life' in which I enter into through the 'new birth' of faith and salvation. A life of freedom from the bonds of sin, a life of eternal communion with God, and all built upon the foundation of grace. Grace, grace, grace. It blows me away.
I asked Jesus to live in my heart when I was 7. I left the church and denied God in my heart when I was 16. His grace beckoned, and at 19, I turned aside my idols, repented, and have tried to make Jesus number one since. I don't know if I chose Him or He chose me, all I know is I wouldn't have it any other way.
Grace and peace to you.
1 Corinthians 1:20-25
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1 comments:
Joel,
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I look forward to reading it often.
I will comment when I am feeling good.
I hope and pray that God will bless you brother in ways you never dreamed before. Have a blessed week.
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